'The Rookie' star Eric Winter hints at romance, chaos, and a major turning point in Valentine's Day episode

Love gets complicated as Eric Winter previews romance, chaos, and heartfelt growth in 'The Rookie's' Valentine's Day episode.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Eric Winter, who plays Tim Bradford on the ABC police procedural 'The Rookie', recently shared exclusive insights into the show's latest Valentine's Day episode. The episode, titled 'Burn 4 Love', saw Bradford and his on-screen love interest Lucy Chen navigate the complexities of their relationship as they exchanged gifts and worked through some roadblocks. Winter praised the show's writers for continuing to peel back layers of his character's growth over the seasons, and discussed the immense popularity of the 'Chenford' ship among the show's dedicated fanbase.

Why it matters

The Valentine's Day episode of 'The Rookie' is significant as it showcases the evolving relationship between the show's two lead characters, Tim Bradford and Lucy Chen. Their chemistry and storyline has become a major draw for the show's viewers, and this episode promises to further develop their dynamic in meaningful ways.

The details

In the Valentine's Day episode, Bradford and Chen both attempt to surprise each other with thoughtful gifts, but encounter some obstacles along the way. Chen can't remember where she hid Bradford's autographed baseball, while Bradford's skin care gift for Chen has yet to be delivered. Despite these setbacks, the two ultimately reconcile and exchange alternative gifts that hold special meaning for them.

  • The Valentine's Day episode of 'The Rookie' aired on Monday, February 9, 2026 at 10 p.m. ET.

The players

Eric Winter

The actor who plays the role of Tim Bradford on the ABC police procedural 'The Rookie'.

Melissa O'Neil

The actress who plays the role of Lucy Chen, Bradford's on-screen love interest, on 'The Rookie'.

Alexi Hawley

The showrunner of 'The Rookie' who has been praised by Winter for continuing to develop the show's characters and storylines.

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What they’re saying

“It's been incredible, as an actor, to be able to get a role like Tim Bradford; he's been so complicated and just challenging as an individual from day one. To see his growth, it's been one of the best evolutions on the show for sure.”

— Eric Winter, Actor (ABC7News)

“We're still peeling back layers every single year, I'm just excited and surprised every year to see what we're going to peel back next.”

— Eric Winter, Actor (ABC7News)

“It's by far the biggest ship all over social media that I've ever been a part of. It's taken on a life of its own worldwide. We have an incredible fandom that just continues to build this show every season.”

— Eric Winter, Actor (TV Insider)

What’s next

Fans of 'The Rookie' will have to tune in to future episodes to see how Bradford and Chen's relationship continues to evolve, and what other major turning points may be in store for the show's characters.

The takeaway

The Valentine's Day episode of 'The Rookie' showcases the growing complexity and popularity of the 'Chenford' relationship, as the show's writers continue to peel back new layers of the characters' dynamic and provide meaningful character growth for the leads.